Carol's Reflection on Fox, Ch.6

“Relationships” was the object that appealed most to me in the LAT’s briefcase. My ideal classroom would be run like a family where the members know each other well because the atmosphere is safe and encourages students and teacher to reveal themselves. I had such an atmosphere in my first-grade class at a private school where I was an assistant teacher. We all got along very well and the students naturally helped and encouraged each other. And when the day was over, my students would hug me and I would pat their head in a sincere act of affection that was also reflected in my teaching as well as their learning.

“The Return of the Affective” was also meaningful to me. The emotions I feel when reading one of my better journal entries can be as intense as they were when I first wrote it. Literature has the power to touch students in this way and can give “emotional nourishment” to them.

It is significant that Fox uses stories to illustrate her concepts. Stories give students a collection of ideas to add to their literary bank. Particularly in Hawaii, stories connect us to our culture and our ancestors and give us a sense of who we are. The anecdotes recorded by my fifth-grade class from their parents were excitedly shared and helped give them a new understanding of their families. Personal stories will always be valued in my own classroom.